Regular readers are probably sick to death of me banging on about the same single issue in print, when interviewed, and when commentating. But this single issue is slowly killing the game at the top level, preventing it from flowing and pulling the entire front row into the firing line.

No one wants to go a game of rugby and see endless breaks in play, which is why the IRB must intervene in order to keep the sport we love a game for all shapes, sizes and abilities. I have therefore used this forum as an open letter to the IRB, outlining a number of ways the laws can be changed in order to improve the scourge of the modern game: the pass.

Too much passing can result in the removal of all distinguishing features

1) Get rid of “the zip”

Players passing in the modern day are currently focusing on “the zip”. This sees one player pass as quickly and flatly to another as possible in order to gain a competitive advantage in the play that follows. Clearly the speed of the ball travelling decreases the likelihood of another player, in particular the front row forward, being able to catch it. Everyone bar the most discombobulatingly stupid should see the advantage of slowing passes down to catchable speeds.

Even illustrations can’t catch a pass with too much zip

2) Sequential passing

It is proven that the success rate of the passes to forwards decreases the further the ball has to travel. Therefore everyone bar the nationalistic and myopic should see that sequential passing is the way to improve the completion rate and keep the game flowing.

For those unsure of how such an act could work, here is a brief explanation. When a player intends to pass, he or she must walk to another player and extend their arms with the ball in hand. The intended recipient then securely places his or her hands on the ball before the original carrier can release it.

Our models demonstrate the correct passing method

3) Grip

Advances in modern ball technology have seen skin-tight man-made materials used in the ball instead of the old baggy pig’s bladder we used in the amateur days. Props cannot get a grip legally, which leads to them bringing the ball to the ground and re-start after re-start. As such, I recommend an overhaul of the shape and surface of the ball to allow the ball to be successfully passed between forwards. I have included a preliminary sketch below:

Fully functioning prototype

4) Education of referees

There is an expectation among elite-level referees that passes to front row forwards will be caught and that anyone not doing so should be penalised. Clearly no self-respecting front-rower would intentionally not catch a ball. Referees should therefore be selected from sympathetic ex-front rowers who realise the intricacies of catching while overweight and gasping for air.

An acceptable referee

With these simple and frankly obvious tweaks, our great game will be saved and we will forever be able to enjoy sights like this.

Don’t deprive the world of this magnificent spectacle IRB. Act now before someone puts him on a calorie-controlled diet.

Glasgow very good with the ball. Their defence is pretty much always good, but they do seem to like to do a lot of it. A team that can win the posession the Ospreys did and has some idea what to do with it will give them a problem though. In a weird sort of way the O’s could have won that match but for the lineout despite all the class coming from Glasgow.

Will Jackson be back in if Weir is out? That can certainly go one of two ways if he is.

To be fair to Jiffy what he said at half-time was also fair enough i.e. Glasgow deserve to be in front, are very well coached and have worked a few things out about the Ospreys, three passes were forward. That he was also disappointed by the state of affairs (chiefly the scoreline) would also seem understandable.

Looking at the Rabo table – Glasgow have scored more points than everybody except Ulster and have a better defence than everybody except Ulster, have more bonus points than anybody, yet will probably still miss out on winning it as they’ll probably have an away semi-final. Last week’s load of mince vs the Scarlets looks as though it will be the difference and with Weir out (probably for a long time) Jackson may come back in next week, it looks as though the semis are the best Glasgow can hope for.

Re Rabo top four: Munster, Leinster and Ospreys are the regulars. The other place changes a lot. Looks like two of them will miss out this year though. Also looks like Ulster and Glasgow will be regulars for a while.

@Clyde – I hope so. It’s amazing what Townsend has done, considering he was vilified for being Scotland’s attack coach when we could not score tries (we had Cussiter, Parks, Morrison, Lamonts & Evanses) and yet Glasgow score for fun – a prop making 20 yard runs through the defence, off loads galore. All helped by Matawalu, of course who gives Glasgow something extra that Laidlaw (good as he is) can’t for Scotland.

BB. I think Greig is playing to a game plan, Niko is a different kettle of fish altogether. There aren’t many scrum halves I’ve seen this season who offer what he can in terms of the undefendable attack, however he is not great on Laidlaw’s strength – quick accurate ball from the base of the scrum – although Laidlaw is told (I think) to use the box kick too often.

I’m not going for a late night blog steal, I’m just noting this down so as I remember it; Adam Jones is the only Os Lions player nailed on atm, the camera angle didn’t allow a decent view of what was going on between him and Grant, but on tonight’s showing, they would make a decent pair of starting props in Oz

I’ve realized this KKK is harder than it looks. You have to choose an avatar that imposes the appropriate level of humiliation without punishing your self for a week. I have got the balance right this week.